The Indianapolis journal., 1887-05-15
READING FOR THE DAY.
sunday-school Lesson for May ee, 1887

Sunday-Schooi Lesson for May 22, 1887.
THE PAssovER-Exod- xii, LA.
Golden Text-Chrst passover is sacrificed Tor
us.-I Cor. ", z.
The religion of the Israelites was destined to
be the foundation of a universal system of re-
ligious truth. Hence it was necessary that the
historic preparation and introduction of this
new religion should be attended with such
"signs and wonders" (Exod. vii, III as to put its
divine origin beyond all reasonable question.
The wonderful series of miracles worked by
Moses and Aaron prepared the people to receive
their comm ands as from God. AS in the case of
our Lord the miracles and wonders prepared
the minds of men TO accept as divine the moral
system taught by "these servants OF the most
high God" 1t was accom- panied by system OF
rewards and punishments that at once filled
their hearts with confidence and their enemies
with fear.
The effect Of these miracles on Pharaoh ard
the Egyptians such to make them dread
the name and power of jehovah Their sacred
river Nile, that they worshiped as god OF fruit
fulness and life. WAS turned into blood, thing
that they hated. The animals they esteemed
divine were treated by the Lord with contempt
and everything in Egypt went down before the
God of Israel. But before the king was made
willing to let the Israeltes free it neces-
sary to work one final miracle of such magnitude
and severity that the whole land was filled with
mourning, and great wall of sorrow went up
from every home and temple and province OF
Egypt. This event was the destruction of the
first-born in every house. and .all the first born
of CATTLE" which included the many supposed
incarnations of their 6eities that they worshiped
in the temples (Exod. xii, 29-30. This destruc-
ton Of their enemies was accompanied by the
deliverance of the Israelites. The wonderful
story of the mark of blood and how it made
them safe, is the subject of this lesson of 1.-The
Passover"
]. God would rather persuade than compel.
He reserves his Judgment until hearts are
hardened against the influence of gentler deal
ings.
2. If. at the last is destroyed, he has his
own hardened heart to reproach for it.
3. The birth of a soul well as the birth of
a nation, is "the beginning of months" The
beginning in Christ changes the calendar of a
mans life.
4. Salvation is provided for every man. In
the count is left out, except him who pre-
fers to stay out.
s. Salvation was meant for the whole house
hold What beautiful sight 1t is to all the
members of family sitting down at the Lords
table together
G. Each lamb slain was typical of s.the Lamb
that hath been slain from the foundation of the
world" He was .lamb without biemish and
without spot"
T. Apart from shedding of blood there is no
g. 1t is not enough that the blood of Christ
has been shed; one must take refuge under it,
9. How easy God has made the condition of
salvation He does not ask OF anyone that he
shall be able to show perfect record but mere
ly that he shall accept of the salvation offered
to him.
blood of Christ but afterward he should daily
feed upon Christ
IL In partaking of the Lords supper we
proclaim ourselves pilgrims and strangers here.
II. In partakine of the Lords supper pro-
claim his death until He come.
I3 The day of judgment, though by mercy
long den ed is come. God sent many
warnin ITO Pharaoh before He smote the first
born.
IA God smote the first-born of the Egyp-
tians because they would not let his frst-born
60